By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE March 11 Leni-Kiko grand rally at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City was, indeed, “godsend” – nothing less, nothing more.
Godsend, per Merriam-Webster and Cambridge English dictionaries, means a desirable or needed thing or event that comes unexpectedly.
Personally witnessing such an “incredible” crowd plus the “superb” technical/stage production, I can’t help but be awed. Such was beyond expectations. The crowd really went “gaga” over VP Leni. Unimaginable, but true!
For my 28 years in the media profession, ‘twas the first time I covered such a political event in Bacolod and Negros with that gigantic crowd. Hence, kudos to the “brainers” of that “Paglaum: Negros Occidental People’s Rally”. Truly amazing and historical!
What’s unique in that political rally was, for me, around 85% of the crowd estimate of 70,000 (in and out of the Paglaum), were “yuppies” (senior high school and college students) and young professionals.
Bold and daring, some of them, it is as if they’re into a “cosplay” – wearing pink costumes of their fave anime characters. The “angst” to vote and be part of the May 9 elections can be ascertained in their faces. They’re picture-perfect “no guts, no glory.”
So, if this is the trend in any of Vice President Leni Robrero’s (VP Leni) rally nationwide, no doubt she’ll gonna win. Why? Because yuppies are incorruptible, period! And, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), 52% of this year’s elections voters are the youth.
EPITOME OF DECENCY
But what really made VP Leni endearing to Bacolodnons and Negresanons?
It’s her humility and simplicity that are oozing naturally.
The way she moves and speaks, she’s (truly) an epitome of decency.
Decency, according to Oxford Languages, is a behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability.
No wonder she chose pink as her political color. World-renowned color expert and founder of Color Meanings Jacob Olesen said pink or fuchsia is biblical. Pink represents love and right relationship with God, he said.
Explained by Olesen, red in the Bible is Jesus’ blood and white is purity, so pink is a combination thereof.
Moreover, pink, he stressed, also indicates sensuality and moral purity in heart.
Thus, VP Leni’s visit at the Saint Vincent’s Home for the Aged in Bacolod; Diocese of San Carlos City; St. Joseph The Worker Parish Church, and at the mausoleum of the Marañons in paying respect to the late governors (brothers) Joseph and Alfredo Jr. in Sagay City mesmerized Negrenses’ emotions. Those were simple acts yet spelled lots of meaning.
Furthermore, one of the biggest banners ever-hanged at the Paglaum Sport Complex during the Leni-Kiko Grand Rally also read: “Let us bring decency back to our presidency.”
Decency, too, is the very premise of “Negros Doctors for Leni” why a group of medical doctors in the province is straightforwardly supporting her. Sans fear, it’s the very first time in Negros’ political history that a group of doctors (in their white medical jackets) rendered a special song number at the rally. Yes, they (doctors) did, thus, quite evocative!
Also, outspoken San Carlos City Bishop Gerry Alminaza asked Negrenses,“Pangamuyu-an ta ang aton desisyon. Let’s discern well. Dapat indi na kita mag-sala pa.”
Up stage, Negros Occidental’s Gov. Bong Lacson declared, “I am for VP Leni bangud siya lang ang nakita ko nga kandidato sa pagka-presidente nga mapisan, sinsero, maalam, kag masaligan.”
Leni, therefore, is our “Star of Hope”, the governor articulated.
In response, if chosen to be the next president, VP Leni assured Negrenses of her “Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat!”
Too, she promised four major things for Negros which include:
1. Sugar Road Map
2. Negros Island Region (NIR).
3. Negros-Guimaras-Panay Bridge
4. Renewable Energy (RE) Thrust
‘PINKISH SLAP’
The out-of-the-blue “ocean of pink supporters” at the Paglaum was, somehow, tantamount to a “pinkish slap”, causing “pinkish hematoma” on the credibility and integrity of the 28 mayors in the province that already declared support to the candidacy of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM).
Likewise, the governor’s jumping move and ala-boxing ring announcer introduction for VP Leni that enlivened the crowd – to the maximum level – were likened to “fatal jabs” against the majority of Negros’ executives.
Yes, it was so “shocking” to see the governor doing that way on stage. Bong is known for being prim and proper, thus, having a “joyous” actuation upstage means a lot to the Negrenses. He was really, really “ecstatic” at that time. Unfathomable, but doubtless, indeed!
In sum, Bong’s presence on stage was figuratively interpreted as “taller and bigger” than the 28 mayors.
‘UNSALABLE PRINCIPLE’
Also perceived “heroes” because of their “unsalable principle” were mayors Thirdy Marañon and Bading Escalante of the cities of Sagay and Cadiz, respectively.
Armed with dauntless courage fueled by their personal conviction, both Thirdy and Bading boldly climbed the stage and publicly showed their rock-solid support for VP Leni.
It’s ironic though that both Thirdy and Bading are members of the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) , yet, they opted to join Love Negros’ Bong who, according to San Carlos City’s Mayor Renato Gustilo, was “just alone” for VP Leni.
While Bong’s allies, the 18 Love Negros’ mayors alongside UNegA’s 13, are now with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, UNegA’s top honcho who is supporting BBM.
Weird, isn’t it?
Or it’s surreal to real in Negros now – governor versus vice governor and two versus 28 mayors for a Leni-BBM’s tiff.
Question: Who’s credible and believable?
Well, let’s face the unchanging fact that Negrenses aren’t just keen observers, but decency lovers as well.
‘TANDO-TANDO, DIIN BUKID?’
Meanwhile, it’s quite “disgusting” to hear Himamaylan City’s Mayor Raymund Tongson (MRT) saying, “Having two presidential candidates being supported by two top provincial officials is an advantage and win-win situation.”
MRT, the regional chairman of BBM for President Movement in Western Visayas, is referring to the current trend – Gov. Bong for VP Leni and VG Jeffrey for BBM.
This, as he stressed, “Whoever wins, we will ask help for the province through their respective supporters.”
Pitiable!
For me, having g this kind of pronouncement via press release published on the same day of the Leni-Kiko Grand Rally made MRT an “unwell” chief executive.
Did he meditate before issuing this statement?
Is he trying to project Negros or the Negrosanons as doble-kara?
Or in local parlance: Diin mayo, didto (DMD)?
Yes, election is a free exercise for everyone’s right of suffrage. Negrenses, therefore, are free to choose their bet(s) depending on what matters to them most on the day of elections – conscience or one-day economics.
But to publicly state the “obvious” susceptible to lots of harmful interpretations is somehow tantamount to inanity.
I think MRT must be aware of the sensitivity of the May 9 elections.
It’s not “hantak” (cara y cruz) that we’ll just choose between the king and the crown, then, boom! Rather, it’s something that will define our way of life in the coming years as well as our children’s children future.
Bishop Alminaza is definitely right in appealing to Negrenses to be cautious these coming elections.
Another “mistake” we’ll gonna commit will be quite unbearable in the next six years, the prelate said. Careful scrutiny of the presidential wannabes’ backgrounds and moral integrity, therefore, is hereby advised.
Indirectly doing “mamamangka sa dalawang ilog” is a no-no, hence. Let’s be firm and decisive instead.
Above all, MRT should be cagy now in issuing any political pronouncement because Negrenses, in the real sense, are categorically not like tando-tando, diin bukid?/PN
